Stabilized fire hose nozzle

ABSTRACT

A fire hose nozzle is equipped internally with a turbine-type rotor having an evenly distributed peripheral mass. The high velocity water stream passing through the nozzle drives the rotor with the result that the nozzle becomes gyroscopically stabilized with a resulting resistance to change in orientation. The nozzle is preferably equipped with handles. The gyro rotor may consist of a single rotor body or a pair of counter-rotating bodies.

United States Patent [191 Koeppe Apr. 16, 1974 STABILIZED FIRE HOSE NOZZLE l.98l.62 III 193; Kgrter 23213592.; 2, 4 l .Q. t i [76] Inventor: Douglas F. Koeppe, 924 W. Ave. F., 13 34 m, 93 1 ompmn I 2 Kmgsvme 78363 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-B. P. Fishburne, Jr. [21] Appl. No.: 317,597 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 239/383 239/461 239/525 A fire hose nozzle is equipped internally with a tur- [511 Bosb 1/34 bine-type rotor having an evenly distributed peripheral mass The g velocity water stream p g through [58] Field of Search 239/383, 525, 461 the nozzle drives the rotor with the result that the noz [56] References Cited zle becomes gyroscopically stabilized with a resulting resistance to change in orientation. The nozzle is pref- UNYTED STATES PATENTS erably equipped with handles. The gyro rotor may 3,082,960 3/1963 Swan 239/383 consist of a ingle rotor o a pair of ounter- 2,767,024 10/1956 Swan 239/383 rotating bodies. 1,432,227 10/1922 Womack 239/383 X 1,985,713 12/1934 Bartlett 239/383 X 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 27 l4 l5 I6 I A. M

STABILIZED FIRE HOSE NOZZLE BACKGRGUND OF THE INVENTION Anyone familiar with the handling of a high pressure fire hose nozzle has experienced the rather extreme reaction forces produced by the discharge of the high velocity stream of water from the nozzle. These forces make the nozzle very difficult to handle and it customarily requires two firemen to hold and manipulate such a nozzle with safety. With this problem in mind, the objective of the invention is to provide a gyro stabilized nozzle for fire hoses and the like which will make the nozzle much less difficult to handle and a great deal safer to use without unduly increasing its weight or complexity. The above objective is achieved through the invention by providing on the nozzle assembly a somewhat enlarged gyro rotor chamber to accommodate either a unitary gyro rotor body or a dual counterrotating rotor arrangement. In either case, the rotor is supported by simple internal bearing structures and has integral turbine blades or vanes to be driven by the high velocity stream of water passing through the nozzle. Handles are provided on opposite sides of the nozzle structure to facilitate holding and reorientation of the nozzle whenever required. It is emphasized that the invention does not immobilize the nozzle but merely renders it more stable in any given position of use. The direction of the stream of water may readily be changed by the fireman, as required to meet the needs of a given situation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gyro stabilized fire hose nozzle embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a central vertical cross sectional view taken through the rotor chamber portion of the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a central vertical section through a modified form of nozzle having dual counter-rotating rotor masses.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6. 1

FIG. 8 is a similar cross sectional view showing a fur ther modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral 10 designates a fire hose nozzle assembly in its entirety including an elongated discharge nozzle body 11 which is preferably detachably connected to an enlarged gyro rotor chamber or housing 12 at the rear of the assembly. The rotor housing 12 is formed in two opposing housing sections 12a and 12b having peripheral flanges which are secured together detachably by suitable bolt means 13. The rotor housing 12 is axially short but sufficiently large in diameter to position the peripheral mass of the gyro.rotor sufficiently far from the nozzle axis to develop the required precessional forces to be effective in stabilizing the nozzle.

The leading rotor housing section 12a has a forwardly extending central axial coupling sleeve 14 formed integral therewith and being externally threaded at 15 for attachment to a mating coupling part on the nozzle body 11. The rear housing section 1212 has a similar rearwardly extending central axial sleeve 16 which is internally threaded at 17 for attachment to a conventional fitting 18 of the fire hose 19. The housing section 1212 is also equipped at diametrically oppo site points with a pair of sturdy handles 20 to facilitate holding and directing the nozzle assembly. These handles are preferably parallel to the axis of the nozzle, as shown, but may, if desired, be extended radially of the nozzle or at an angle to the nozzle axis.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, the gyro rotor comprises an annular peripheral mass or ring 21 of uniform cross-section which fits closely within the flat annular chamber formed between the housing sections 12a and 12b. The rotor has a central hub portion 22 journaled through a suitable bearing means 23 for free rotation on a fixed central axial shaft 24 firmly supported on the rotor chamber structure by internal spider supports 25 and 26, or the like. The peripheral rotor, mass 21 and hub portion 22 are rigidly interconnected by a plurality of pitchedturbine-type blades or vanes 27, such blades or vanes being circumferentially spaced equidistantly about the rotor. The precise number and shape of these blades may vary in accordance with efficient design principles but in any case the several blades are all pitched in one direction to cause rotation of the gyro rotor in one direction, such as clockwise, when the rotor is viewed from a vantage "point at the rear of the nozzle assembly.

During operation, as the high velocity water stream from the hose 19 passes through the nozzle assembly, such stream will flow around the hub portion 22 and pass through the turbine blades 27 and the latter will react to rotate the peripheral mass 21 at a relatively high speed of rotation. The spider supports 25 and 26 and the hub will offer only minimum resistance to the passage of the water stream and the efficiericy of the nozzle in this respect is not diminished to any objectionable degree. Also the energy utilized to drive the rotor, particularly after the rotor has achieved effective operational speed, is not significant in terms of the overall efficiency of the nozzle in its intended usage. With the gyro rotor turning at a relatively high speed under influence of the high velocity water stream, the same will serve effectively to gyroscopically stabilize the nozzle during use so that the nozzle will be resistant to change in orientation. This greatly simplifies the handling of a high pressure nozzle and renders the handling much more safe in comparison to conventional nozzles which do not embody the invention.

However, the invention does not completely immobilize the nozzle in a given position of use nor does it hinder the ability of the fireman to reorient the water stream in any manner required while fighting a fire. The invention very simply stabilizes the fire hose nozzle while it is in a given position of use, as stated. All that is required for the completely successful use of the nozzle embodying the invention is a very elemental knowledge on the part of the operator of the motions and forces required to counteract gyroscopic precession whenever redirecting of the water stream becomes necessary. For example, assuming clockwise rotation of the gyro rotor as viewed from the rear end of the nozzle, when it is desired to reorient the stream of water downwardly from a previous position, the fireman must realize that it is necessary to apply a force couple which normally would turn the nozzle to the right, if the gyro stabilizer means were not present. Similarly, to tilt the water stream upwardly, he must apply a couple which would normally turn the nozzle to the left. To direct the stream to the right, he must attempt to tilt it upwardly, and to turn it to the left, he must apply forces which would normally move it downwardly were the invention not present.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a modification of the invention is illustrated wherein the divided rotor housing 28 is constructed to accommodate a pair of counterrotating gyro rotor bodies or rings 29 and 30 whose turbine blades 31 and 32 are pitched oppositely as illustrated in FIG. 7. The central hubs 33 of the counterrotating bodies are mounted on a shaft 34 which is journaled for free rotation in preferably streamlined bearings 35 fixedly suspended by arm means 36 in the two sections of rotor housing 28 at the nozzle axis. A pair of ball bearing elements37 at the ends of the shaft 34 absorb thrust forces. As shown in FIG. 6, the center portion of the housing 28 adjacent the blades 31 and 32 is globular as indicated at 38 so as to offer minimum resistance to water passing through the rotor housing and through the turbine blade. The housing is adapted at 39 and 40 to be coupled to the nozzle 11 and hose 19 in the manner already described in the previous embodiment.

The mode of operation of the invention in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the purpose of the device is essentially the same as described in the previous embodiment. However, the counter-rotating gyro rotors 29 and 30 tends to eliminate drift in the nozzle and certain other unwanted movement tendencies during reorientation of the nozzle while it is in use.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the dual rotor configuration in FIG. 6. The center shaft 34 and center bearing means have been eliminated and the counterrotating gyro rotors 41 and 42 are journaled for free rotation in peripheral ring bearings 43 and 44 in the enlarged portion ofthe divided housing 45. The center hub portions of the two rotors may be streamlined as indicated at 41a and 42a. The oppositely pitched impeller or turbine blades are indicated at 46 and 47 adjacent to the enlarged center portion 48 of the housing structure. In all other respects, the invention in FIG. 8 correspondsto the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the mode of operation is essentially the same.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same. and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A gyro stabilized nozzle assembly for tire hoses and the like comprising a fluid discharge nozzle element, a radially enlarged gyro rotor housing means coupled to said nozzle element and adapted for con nection with a hose and having a central axial through passage for fluid in communication with the hose and said nozzle element, and a gyro stabilizing rotor journaled for free rotation on said housing means and including a peripheral annular gyro mass of uniform cross section and weight distribution and radial impeller blades extending at least in part into said through passage, said peripheral gyro mass disposed radially outwardly of said through passage and being coaxial therewith.

2. The structure of claim 1, and manipulating handle means on the nozzle assembly.

3. The structure of claim 1, and said gyro rotor housing means comprising a two-part divided housing, one part of the housing having a coupling to receive the nozzle element and the other part of the housing having a coupling for a hose, and internal bearing means on the housing parts supporting said gyro rotor for free rotation.

4. The structure of claim 1, and said gyro rotor comprising a single rotor body having its impeller blades pitched to produce rotation of the rotor body in one direction when a stream of fluid passes through said blades.

5. The structure of claim 1, and said gyro rotor comprising a pair of counter-rotating rotor bodies whose impeller blades are oppositely pitched.

6. The structure of claim 5, and support bearing means for said counter-rotating rotor bodies at the axial center of said rotor housing means.

7. The structure of claim 5, and support bearing means for said counter-rotating rotor bodies in the rotor housing means engaging the peripheries of the rotor bodies.

8. The structure of claim 1, and a diametrically opposed pair of handles for the nozzle assembly on the gyro rotor housing means.

9. The structure of claim 8, and said handles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle assembly.

10. In a nozzle assembly for tire hoses and the like, a nozzle for discharging a fluid stream with velocity, and a gyro stabilizing unit for the nozzle assembly coupled with said nozzle element and containing a gyro rotor driven by the fluid stream passing through the nozzle assembly, said gyro rotor having a peripheral annular gyro mass of larger diameter than said nozzle element and being disposed bodily outwardly of said fluid stream in surrounding relation thereto coaxially. 

1. A gyro stabilized nozzle assembly for fire hoses and the like comprising a fluid discharge nozzle element, a radially enlarged gyro rotor housing means coupled to said nozzle element and adapted for connection with a hose and having a central axial through passage for fluid in communication with the hose and said nozzle element, and a gyro stabilizing rotor journaled for free rotation on said housing means and including a peripheral annular gyro mass of uniform cross section and weight distribution and radial impeller blades extending at least in part into said through passage, said peripheral gyro mass disposed radially outwardly of said through passage and being coaxial therewith.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and manipulating handle means on the nozzle assembly.
 3. The structure of claim 1, and said gyro rotor housing means comprising a two-part divided housing, one part of the housing having a coupling to receive the nozzle element and the other part of the housing having a coupling for a hose, and internal bearing means on the housing parts supporting said gyro rotor for free rotation.
 4. The structure of claim 1, and said gyro rotor comprising a single rotor body having its impeller blades pitched to produce rotation of the rotor body in one direction when a stream of fluid passes through said blades.
 5. The struCture of claim 1, and said gyro rotor comprising a pair of counter-rotating rotor bodies whose impeller blades are oppositely pitched.
 6. The structure of claim 5, and support bearing means for said counter-rotating rotor bodies at the axial center of said rotor housing means.
 7. The structure of claim 5, and support bearing means for said counter-rotating rotor bodies in the rotor housing means engaging the peripheries of the rotor bodies.
 8. The structure of claim 1, and a diametrically opposed pair of handles for the nozzle assembly on the gyro rotor housing means.
 9. The structure of claim 8, and said handles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle assembly.
 10. In a nozzle assembly for fire hoses and the like, a nozzle for discharging a fluid stream with velocity, and a gyro stabilizing unit for the nozzle assembly coupled with said nozzle element and containing a gyro rotor driven by the fluid stream passing through the nozzle assembly, said gyro rotor having a peripheral annular gyro mass of larger diameter than said nozzle element and being disposed bodily outwardly of said fluid stream in surrounding relation thereto coaxially. 